Graham Motion and Buck Davidson Team Up for UK Lecture

Motion captured the 137th Kentucky Derby with Team Valor's Animal Kingdom, who would go on to run second in the Preakness Stakes and win the 2013 Dubai World Cup.

Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

Two equine industry titans will team up for University of Kentucky (UK) Ag Equine Programs’ next Distinguished Industry Lecture Series. H. Graham Motion, trainer of the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, and Bruce “Buck” Davidson Jr., an eventer who competed for the United States at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and was an alternate for both the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams, will speak April 21 at 6 p.m. EST in the Ag Science Building’s Seay Auditorium on the UK campus.

Sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, the event is free and open to the public.

“We are thrilled that Mr. Motion and Mr. Davidson are willing to so generously give of their time and expertise to provide this unique opportunity for our students and community to learn from not one, but two of the industry's most respected individuals," said Jill Stowe, PhD, director of UK Ag Equine Programs and faculty member in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s department of agricultural economics. "In addition, we are looking forward to discovering the common theme between two seemingly different equine sports, racing and eventing.

Motion captured the 137th Kentucky Derby with Team Valor's Animal Kingdom, who would go on to run second in the Preakness Stakes and win the 2013 Dubai World Cup. Motion, a native of Cambridge, England, moved to the United States when he was 16. His father was a U.S. representative for the British sales company Tattersalls. Motion worked for Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard and as an assistant to Bernard (Bernie) P. Bond before taking out his own trainer's license and has since saddled more than 1,000 winners. Motion currently resides in Fair Hill, Md., with his wife and two children and operates a public stable, Herringswell Stables, in Lewisville, Pa. His official website is hgrahammotion.com.

Davidson competed for the United States at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and was an alternate for both the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams.

Photo: Tara Katherine Photography

Davidson, the son of eventing legend Bruce Davidson Sr., has been in the saddle since birth. He is recognized as an outstanding athlete, horseman, competitor, trainer, coach, and clinician. He runs a training and competition facility during the winter in Ocala, Fla., and during the summer in Riegelsville, Pa. His students range from young riders and adult amateurs to professionals. He will be competing in the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. Accomplishments include the 2013 Pinnacle Trophy for highest placed U.S. Rider at Rolex Kentucky CCI, top ranked rider in the U.S. in 2011, 2011 Pan American Team member, and second ranked rider in the U.S. in 2010 and 2009. His official website is buckdavidson.com.

“This lecture series has always featured distinguished leaders and practitioners of the equine industry," said Nancy Cox, PhD, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment dean. "For this series, we have a true ‘dream team,’ invited by Dr. Stuart Brown (DVM) of our sponsoring organization. Dr. Brown and our speakers are linked through respect and admiration of the late Christine Comella Brown, who was the wife of Dr. Brown and who we are very proud to say is a UK alum.”

The Distinguished Lecture Series began in the fall of 2009 and has become a signature event of UK Ag Equine Programs. It is designed to showcase important figures from the equine industry in an informal setting. Dan Liebman, past editor-in-chief for The Blood-Horse magazine, has interviewed all of the participants.

Previous series speakers included Keeneland’s Nick Nicholson in November 2009, accomplished equestrienne Nina Bonnie in April 2010, Keeneland’s Ted Bassett in April 2011, Zenyatta owners Jerry and Ann Moss in September 2011, and Olympian Reed Kessler in November 2012.

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